Fantasy Football: Green Light, Red Light, Yellow Light for These 2024 RBs?

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My draft strategy has changed over the years — I usually want the most dynamic receiver room possible, wideouts who start themselves. Meanwhile, I tend to lean toward a Hero RB build, one big back to anchor things and the others on a budget.

This isn’t to say that running backs aren’t important. It’s just a nod to the volatility and changing workloads. The middle of the pack at the position has more acceptable answers than it did in the past, and we’re accepting fewer points from our RB2s and RB3s. But if a genie were to appear and only provide answers at one position, I’d beg for the running backs list.

With that in mind, let’s play a game of Green Light, Yellow Light, Red Light for running backs. 🚦

• Green light = Backs I can draft with confidence. Proactive picks around (maybe even a little ahead of) market price.

• Yellow light = I could take the backs off at cost price or at a discount, but I’m not going to choose them specifically.

• Red light = I avoid backs. Often it’s the price here, not the player.

Disagree? I’m all ears.

👍 Green light RB’s

Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson: Two bell-cow backs running behind excellent offensive lines and tied for teams likely to make the playoffs. They’re also players on the escalator; Hall is entering his age-23 season, Robinson is a year younger.

Isaac Pacheco: He proved he can be a three-level back during the money weeks, and Andy Reid’s offense is expected to experience a positive regression after surprisingly normal production in 2023.

Devin Singletary: He surprisingly exceeded expectations in Houston, and now he’s reunited with Brian Daboll, who Singletary trusted in Buffalo. Depth chart is unproven after Singletary.

🤔 Yellow light RB’s

Kyren Williams: An undisputed winner of the league in 2023, but the Rams likely have a role in mind for third-round pick Blake Corum.

Rachaad White: Last year it was a lot of volume, but now it’s harder to trust the offense with offensive coordinator Dave Canales gone.

Rhamondre Stevenson: A potential top prospect, but the young Patriots passing game could struggle to keep up with the offense.

🛑 Red Light RB’s

Saquon-Barkley: He won’t miss the leaky NYG offensive line, but Jalen Hurts doesn’t pass much to backs, and it’s not clear who the TD hog will be around the goal line. Receiving efficiency is trending in the wrong direction.

Jahmyr Gibbs: David Montgomery is always going to be a part of this backfield, and Gibbs is also dealing with a hamstring injury. If you want a flashy young player and don’t mind a volume cap hit, target De’Von Achane — he’ll last about a round longer.

Alvin Kamara: Efficiency fizzles out and the Saints may have the NFL’s worst offensive line. A bunch of cheap catches saved Kamara last year, but he’s a regular touchdown source (10 in his last 28 games) and is entering that dangerous age-29 season.